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Three North Pinellas teams make grid postseason

Eric Horchy/SUNCOAST

Tarpon Springs running back Adrian Golden will look to lead the Spongers past the playoffs' opening round for the first time since 1994 during a Nov. 20 home clash against Lake Weir.

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: November 13, 2009

Updated:

This is the time of year where summertime two-a-days, 7-on-7 camps and stomach-churning conditioning drills all become validated.

If your high school football program is still strapping up to hit the practice field this week, it means the regular season foothill has been scaled and now a five-step mountain lies in wait.

For three North Pinellas programs - Tarpon Springs, East Lake and Countryside - the do-or-die journey begins this Friday.

On Nov. 20, Tarpon and Countryside will have the luxury of staying home by virtue of being district champs. East Lake will need to rev up the busses, but this year's Eagles are no strangers to a quality opponent.

"I try to set schedules up that way," said East Lake Coach Bob Hudson. "I want to play good teams because I don't want to get to the playoffs and have players being in awe of other guys."

Each squad has played a number of quality opponents this season. Now the area has three marquee, intercounty matchups to make an impression, and a name, for teams from the north.

East Lake at Tampa Bay Tech

The Eagles will pull into Tampa Bay Tech on Friday after playing half their schedule against playoff-qualifying teams.

Many programs throughout Pinellas County have typically been lightly regarded in comparison to their Hillsborough brethren, but the size and physicality of East Lake may be an X factor that makes this one of the region's top matchups.

Bruising University of Miami commit Maurice Hagens is one of the area's best running backs and his style is a bit different from what East Lake defenders have gone up against this season. That's not to say the Eagles haven't seen their fair share of impressive backfields, though. East Lake took on four of Pinellas County's Top 10.

Counter that with Jamaal Wilburn, the No. 4 rusher in the county, on offense and East Lake has reason to believe it can notch the program's first playoff win since 2003.

Lake Weir at Tarpon Springs

The Spongers let it be known early and often that this is where they fully expected to be at this point in the season - hosting a playoff game as district champs.

Now they get to prove Tarpon is more than just a district power.

Led all year by one of the area's top offensive backfields, the Spongers are seeking their first postseason win since 1994.

Ocala's Lake Weir is making only its second playoff appearance in school history and is thin on depth, but while Tarpon Coach George Kotis said the Spongers have aspirations beyond Round 1, the Hurricanes will have their full attention come Friday.

Lake Weir scored at least 40 points on six occasions this year and is led by Tracy Curry, an athletic, dual-threat quarterback that Kotis said has "hold your breath" type ability.

Freedom at Countryside

The Cougars have not seen it terribly often this season, but Freedom High and Zephyrhills transfer Tyler Guy like to throw the football around.

Countryside's defense will be tested in the box and in the secondary by a pretty balanced Patriots attack.

Besides one slip up at Lakewood midway through the season, the Cougars have laid waste to virtually their entire schedule. Running back Alton Taylor's 26 touchdowns tops anyone in the Tampa area, has 1,338 yards and is the driving force behind Countryside's success.

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